Street Reach Indy Help the Homeless

DIRECT SERVICES TO THE HOMELESS

Street Reach Indy funds provide the homeless with life assistance & medical care, and aid with key steps toward permanent housing. The campaign is operated by the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention & Prevention (CHIP) with leadership from Downtown Indy. It is supported through the sponsorship of Indianapolis businesses, organizations, and individuals. The goal is simple: to improve the lives of our city’s homeless in the most meaningful ways possible.

Your donation directly benefits the work of our Professional Outreach Teams. These teams provide first-response services to Indianapolis homeless. They are made up of organizations including local law-enforcement, nonprofits, health providers, and mental health entities. The teams serve as the front line for providing basic food and supplies to the homeless, with the goal of developing a relationship with each person and connecting him or her with resources to transition into permanent housing. In 2016, over $50,000 was raised and 61 individuals either moved into permanent housing, or made significant steps in doing so. With more funds the teams can help more individuals (and families) reach the necessary services needed to return them to self-sufficiency.

YOUR DONATION QUICKLY & EASILY REACHES THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED, HOMELESS, AND ON THE STREETS OF INDIANAPOLIS.

And if you’d like to get involved on a more personal level, we can help connect you with the right organization.

Regina

Regina was chronically homeless with a history of alcohol abuse. Professional Blended Street Outreach teams had been increasingly concerned about her. She was very ill and wouldn’t seek treatment. PBSO team members told her she needed to go to the emergency room. She refused. But a doctor on one of the teams was able to do an informal exam and give her some medical advice. Because the teams had made a connection with her, she trusted them. An hour later, she called an ambulance and was admitted to the hospital. She was then able to go into an alcohol treatment program and complete it with great success. Regina was able to get the help she needed through the coordinated outreach efforts of this initiative.

John

John had been on the streets for over 25 years. He was connected with a Professional Blended Street Outreach team because of frostbite. He was admitted to the hospital, but he refused surgery. Eventually, he was released back to the streets. Through the efforts of many different agencies and the Professional Blended Street Outreach teams, he eventually returned to the hospital and agreed to an amputation. While at the clinic, John was amazed by his access to a refrigerator and a blender. While he continued to heal, the access to these appliances convinced him he needed to move into permanent housing after being on the streets for so many years. John was able to obtain stable housing and a phone - the first time he had ever had a phone of his own. Today, staff continue to follow up and work with John to make sure he is doing well.

Ashley

Ashley came off the streets as a trafficking victim. After being picked up and arrested, she was in need of assistance. She had a history of trauma and struggled with PTSD. She was able to visit a local homeless service provider to talk through her needs. Ashley told them, “You didn’t even ask why I had come. You were just glad to see me and wanted to help.” That night, Ashley didn’t answer phone calls for sex. Instead, through the Professional Blended Street Outreach team, she was connected to a recovery program. She is now steadily employed and actively looking for housing. Through the collaborative efforts of PBSO, Ashley has found herself and her voice, and she is well on her way to becoming self-sufficient.

Adeline

After exiting the military and going through a divorce, Adeline, a now single mother of two, faced immense change. Despite having a college education, she struggled to find work to provide for her family without the structure of the military and the support of a spouse. Trying to make ends meet with two delivery jobs, she eventually couldn’t keep up with her bills and lost her apartment. “The best way to look at it,” suggests Adeline, “is each of us, every single person, is one or two circumstances from being in the exact same position.” She moved into an emergency shelter, found work as a security guard, and worked with veteran services to receive financial counseling. Through the Street Reach Indy funds, Adeline was able to pay for a security deposit for an apartment for herself and her two children.

Mike

A Seattle mother was worried about the safety and well-being of her son, Mike. She knew he was living on the streets in Indianapolis and had serious health concerns. Mike’s family had bought him a plane ticket to come back to Seattle so that he could live with them and receive treatment for his needs, but he missed his flight. He had called his mother once since missing the flight, but she was unable to reach him after that. Mike’s mother was afraid that his existing health concerns and the cold weather made him vulnerable to hypothermia or worse. Professional Blended Street Outreach team members went looking for Mike. They found him in an abandoned building, very ill, weak, and close to giving up. While his condition remains guarded, but he is determined to get well.